PEDIATRICS Vol. 55 No. 4 April 1975, pp. 456-458
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Soyka, L. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Soyka, L. F.

Prenatal exposure to stilbestrol and adenocarcinoma of the female genital tract: The pediatrician's responsibility

Lester F. Soyka M.D.1

1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05401

In 1970 Herbst and Scully1 reported seven cases of adenocarcinoma of the vagina in adolescents, of which six were of the clear-cell type. In a followup paper,2 an association was proposed between the occurrence of this previously rare tumor in young women and their exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES). This startling conclusion was immediately strengthened by reports of additional cases, and soon adenocarcinoma of the cervix also was linked to in utero DES exposure.3 These reports have been popularized by the media, and some obstetricians have recommended routine, repeated vaginal examination, biopsy, culposcopy, etc. for all females who were exposed in utero.4-6